b. 05/12/1854 Newark, Nottinghamshire. d. 11/09/1920 Kirkcaldy, Scotland.
William Thomas Marshall (1854-1920) was born on 5th December 1854 in Newark, Nottinghamshire, son of John Richard Marshall. He was educated privately, and joined the 19th Hussars on the 20th July 1873. He served in the Anglo-Egyptian War of 1882-1884, and was present at the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir (being awarded the Medal with clasp and the Khedive’s Star). He then served in the Sudan Campaign of 1884, being present at the engagements at El Teb and Tamai; was mentioned in despatches, received two clasps to the campaign medal, and was awarded the VC (London Gazette, 21st May 1884) for the following action.
William T Marshall VC
On 29th February 1884, at the Battle of El Teb, the Commanding Officer of the 19th Hussars, Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Barrow, was severely wounded, his horse killed and he was on the ground surrounded by the enemy. At this point, Quartermaster-Sergeant Marshall rode to his aid. He grabbed his hand, and dragged him through the enemy soldiers and back to the regiment, saving him from certain death.
Marshall was invested with the Victoria Cross on 3rd July 1884 at Windsor Castle from Queen Victoria. He was then commissioned as a Quartermaster on 20th January 1885. He later served in the Second Boer War of 1899-1900, and took part in the operations in Natal, including the actions at Lombard’s Kop, the defence of Ladysmith and Laing’s Nek, and received the Queen’s Medal with four clasps.
He married on 24th October 1900 in Ipswich to Louisa Wiseman, third daughter of Captain Wiseman of the Indian Army and they went on to have a daughter, Violet Wiseman Marshall. William was Camp Quartermaster at Aldershot in 1905, and retired from service in 1907. He became Secretary of the Fife County Territorial Force Association in March 1908. He was mentioned in despatches during the Great War for his service, and promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in 1919.
Marshall died on 11th September 1920, aged 65 in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland. He was buried in Kirkcaldy Cemetery with a Commonwealth War Graves maintained headstone. His headstone was renovated in 1992. His medals are held by the 15th/19th Royal Hussars Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: LIGHT DRAGOONS MUSEUM, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE.
BURIAL PLACE: BENNOCHY ROAD CEMETERY, KIRKCALDY, SCOTLAND. LAIR 23.
